Consumer Reports: 2010 Mustang Best Muscle Car

Ford Mustang Outpoints Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger in Consumer Reports Tests of Sports Cars and Coupes.

The freshened Ford Mustang outpointed two other reincarnated muscle cars -- the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger -- as well as the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe in Consumer Reports' tests of six sporty cars and coupes in the October issue.

The Mustang received a Very Good overall road test score of 78, outpointing the Camaro which received a Very Good 71, and the Challenger, which received a Good 53 points. CR's engineers found the Mustang's 2010 freshening makes it an even more balanced and satisfying driver's car than ever before.

"The Mustang topped this group by delivering strong acceleration, communicative steering, and the most agile handling," said David Champion, senior director of CR's Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut.

2010 ROUSH Mustang Documentary to air on SPEED

It took fourteen months for the ROUSH® 2010 Mustang to go from design sketches to the dealer showroom floor, but you can see the entire process in one hour. SPEED will premier a special behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the fifth generation ROUSH Mustang on July 20 at 8 p.m. (Eastern).

The show, titled “2010 ROUSH Mustang: The Art of Performance Engineering” will take viewers through the countless steps and hundreds of thousands of hours necessary to turn a car from a concept sketch into one of the finest high-performance vehicles on the market. You’ll see the boardroom drama, the trade-offs that have to be made, and the official unveil before a throng of media and fans of Jack Roush and his vehicles.

Footage was captured in several areas where cameras are normally strictly forbidden, such as the clay modeling studio, ROUSH Manufacturing and Vehicle Assembly, and the Cooper Tire & Vehicle Test Center near San Antonio. Additionally, the show will feature special guest interviews with luminaries such as Chip Foose, NHRA Drag Racer John Force, and NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle.

“2010 ROUSH Mustang: The Art of Performance Engineering” is scheduled to air three times on SPEED:

• Monday, July 20 at 8 p.m (Eastern) – East Coast Premie
• Tuesday, July 21 at Midnight (Eastern) – West Coast Premier (9 p.m. Pacific on July 20
• Monday, September 21 at 8 a.m. (Eastern)

Shelby Uncages 2010 GT500 Super Snake

LAS VEGAS – June 26, 2009 – Continued demand for a “Super Snake” post title package has led Shelby Automobiles to unveil a new program to turn a limited number of 2010 Ford Shelby GT500s into Shelby super cars. The Super Snake package will include enhancements to the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500’s handling, styling and power; output ratings will range from 630 to over 725 horsepower. Exclusivity will be assured as a limited number of Super Snakes will be built at the Shelby Autos facility in Las Vegas or one of the Mod Shops, beginning in August 2009.

“We take great pride in engineering fast, fun cars that people love to drive,” said Carroll Shelby. “Over the past 12 months, my team of hot rodders was hard at work on a Super Snake package for the next generation GT500. Every lesson we learned kicking the competition around on the track over the past two years has been poured into this new car to keep Shelby owners out front.”

Born on the drag strip and road course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ford Racing and Shelby Automobiles dialed in an even more aggressive suspension and engine package for the 2010 car.

Ford Mustang Heading To NASCAR In 2010

Ford will be submitting plans for a Mustang body stock car for the 2010 NASCAR season and Chrysler has done the same with their Dodge Challenger. The plans are due by June 26th and are likely to meet with rather swift approval. The plan to include the two iconic pony cars in NASCAR is a bid to accomplish several things: first, and foremost, it will help raise the profile of the Mustang and Challenger, and hopefully draw in more viewers and boost souvenir sales; and second, it will serve to differentiate the vehicles from the rest of the pack.

For the casual race fan, it is virtually impossible to distinguish the automakers who provide the different stock cars unless there is a tight shot on the portions of the cars that carry the manufacturer's logo. There have been no leaked images of the proposed bodies for the Mustang and Challenger, but one would assume that the inherent styling differences between the stock Fusions and Chargers currently in use, and their pony car cousins, will lead to some visual differences on the track.  We'll have to wait a bit until the official designs are unveiled, but here's hoping that some of the 2010 Mustang's great styling hits the circuit next year.

Lastly, don't expect to see a three-way pony car matchup, as GM will not be entering a Camaro-based body next year as they're sticking with the Impala.

Source: AllFordMustangs.com

Factory Track Pack Now Available for 2010 Ford Mustang

DEARBORN, Mich., June 10, 2009 – The 2010 Ford Mustang, now in dealer showrooms, builds on a proud, unbroken 45-year heritage of Fast, Fun and Affordable with an all-new exterior design, available cutting-edge technology and performance enhancements pioneered on Ford's extensive racing and special programs.

One hallmark of Mustang's enduring popularity is the opportunity to customize this American icon. Enthusiasts who have personalized and customized Mustangs range from legends, such as Carroll Shelby, to professional drivers to hobbyists who enjoy a weekend at the track.

For those customers interested in more-aggressive performance, an optional factory-installed Track Pack is available this summer for 2010 Ford Mustang GT coupes with manual transmission. Ford Racing's FR3 Handling Package also is available for those enthusiasts who want even more aggressive suspension tuning and can be installed in their garage or at a Ford dealer. Car and Driver magazine recently declared a 2010 Mustang equipped with a Track Pack the winner in a comparison test against the new Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger, calling the body control of the Mustang with the Track Pack "astounding."